Ascot preview: Le Mercurey looks a class act

Le Mercurey created a big impression when making a winning debut over fences, so can take the step up into Grade 2 company in his stride to follow-up in the 2m 5f Mitie Novices’ Chase on today’s card at Ascot (14.30).

The gelding won two of his three starts over hurdles when trained in France, and shaped with plenty of promise in three starts last season after joining champion trainer Paul Nicholls.

Sebastian a Beach of a bet

The Jonjo O’Neill trained gelding shaped with bags of promisin his first two starts over hurdles when finishing in the frame behind rivals now rated 133 and 140, before making all to win easing down by 4 1/2 lengths at Chepstow.

Sebastian Beach was allotted an opening handicap mark of 129 on the back of that success, but failed to trouble the judge in his next three starts over the obstacles.

However, the four-year-old was thought good enough to run in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival and is now able to race in this class 3 contest off a mark of just 118.